Stretcher.



H. WILSON n R. B. MAOFARLAND.

'STBJETGHERI v LPPLIoATIoN FILED P B. 2a, 1908.

Patented sept. 22, 1908.

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UNITE sTATEs PATENT OEEIOE.

HAROLD WILSON AND ROBERT B. MACFARLAND, OF OONNEAUT, OHIO.

STRETCHER.

Application filed April 23, 1908. Serial No. 428,714.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HAROLD WILSON and ROBERT B. MAOFARLAND, citizens of the United States, residing in the city of Conneaut, county of Ashtabula, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of our invention is to provide a stretcher' which may be used for carrying a sick, injured or dead person from one place to another, but which is especially adapted to hold the body of such a person while being lifted through a narrow opening, such as the hatchway of a ship, the shaft of a mine, etc.

In carrying out our invention, we construct a light, strong frame com rising two parallel bars provided with hand es at their ends and connected by cross-bars in the usual way. This we cover with strong canvas as usual and to the stretcher thus constructed we attach a number of straps which are adapted to securely fasten thebody to the stretcher in such manner that it cannot become detached or slip even when the stretcher is held in a vertical position. One of these strapsis adapted to pass over the chest and under the arms of the body, another is arranged to pass over the legs just above the feet, while other straps are employed which are adapted to pass over the upper parts of the legs in the region of the loins in such manner as to sustain most of the weight. These latter straps are attached to a re-inforced part of the canvas which is connected to one of the cross-bars of the frame by strips which thus in effect sustain the loin straps from the frame of the stretcher, In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is 'a to plan view of our improved stretcher. Fig. 2 1s a bottom plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a top view of the stretcher with a body attached thereto.

The side-bars A and cross-bars B are preferably made of wood connected in the usual Way and the canvas O is secured to the vframe as usual. The body may be carried in a horizontal position by means of the handles D and when the body is secured to the stretcher it may be lifted while in an upright position by means of a rope E, connected to rings F, attached to the stretcher-frame. The breast-strap G, which may be made of leather, canvas or other suitable material, is secured at g to a strip H, of similar material,

Specification of Letters Patent.

-R, attached to the side-bars A.

Patented Sept. 22,' 1908.

firmly attached to the canvas and the sidebars A. The buckle I for the breast-strap, is attached to a short strap J, firmly fastened at K to the strip H. The lower-strap L is attached at Z to'one of the side-bars A and coperates with a buckle M, connected with the other cross-bar.

T indicates a loop through which the strap L is adapted to pass.

The middle straps N, O, are what we call the loin-straps. They are attached to the middle part of the stretcher which is re-inforced as shown at P by a piece of leather or other suitable strong material. The ends fn, o of the loin-straps coperate with buckles Q, In order that the weight of the body may be sustained by the frame, the re-inforcing piece P is con- Ilected with one of the cross bars B, by strips S, of suitable material. These strips are preferably arranged diagonally as shown, being attached to the cross-bar near its junction with the side-bars and extending to the center of the re-inforcing piece to which they are secured.

The body is secured to the stretcher in the manner shown in Fig. 3. The breast-strap is passed under one arm and across the chest while the buckle-strap is passed under the other arm and secured to the breast-strap in the manner indicated. The lower strap L is passed over the lower part of one leg, then through the loop T, then over the other leg and is then secured to the buckle M, as shown in Fig. 3 The loin-straps are passed out between the legs and turned in opposite directions over the legs and connected with the buckles Q and R. These straps sustain the greater part of the weight and as these straps are attached to are-inforced part of the canvas which is connected with the frame, practically the entire weight of the body when in a vertical position, is carried by the rigid frame of the stretcher which can then be lifted through a narrow opening Without discomfort or undue strain on the canvas and as soon as the stretcher has thus been lifted through the opening, the various straps can be quickly loosened, if desirable.

We claim as our invention:

l. A stretcher comprising a frame having a covering with a re-inforced portion, means for connecting this reinforced portion with one end of the frame, means for attaching the upper and lower parts of a body to the stretcher and the loin-straps attached to the reeinforced part of the stretcher and adapted to pass around the u per parts of the legs of' the body7 substantia ly as described.

2. A stretcher comprising a rigid frame having a iiexible covering, a reeinforcing piece applied to the middle portion of the frame, strips of suitable material connecting the re-in'forcing piece With the frame at one end, means for attaching the upper and lower part of a body to the stretcher and the loinstraps attached to the reeinforced part of the covering and adapted to encircle the upper parts of the legs or' the body.

3. A stretcher comprising a frame having a flexible covering, a breast-strap attached thereto, a loWer strap attached to the frame,

a buckle With which it cooperates, a loop through Which the strap extends, loinestraps attached to the middle part of the covering adapted to pass out between the legs of the body and encircle them, and means for connecting the middle part of the covering Where the loin-straps are attached to one end of the frame.

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto subscribed our names.

HAROLD WILSON. ROBERT B. MACFARLAND.

Witnesses:

BEssIE SHELDON, B. O. KINGDOM. 

